PORT TOWNSEND — Rain or shine, the Rhododendron Festival will get under way today in Port Townsend.
The six-day festival includes the Royalty Hand Prints, Trike Races, Rhododendron Flower Show, Pet Parade, Kiddies Parade, Bed Races, Kiwanis Fish Fry, Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Open, Elks Rhody Fundraiser Pancake Breakfast and the carnival at Memorial Field.
“I’m hoping it dries out,” said Christy Green, president of the Rhododendron Festival Association.
The long-range forecast calls for improving weather conditions this week, with mostly sunny skies and highs around 60 by the weekend.
The festival royalty — Queen Emma King and princesses Carley Lundgren and Abigail Green — will mark their hand prints at 3 p.m. today at the Fort Worden State Park Rhododendron Garden.
The next events are scheduled Wednesday through Saturday, ending with the Grand Parade.
Green said close to 100 entrants had signed up for the grand parade as of Sunday. She said registrations may have to be closed by Wednesday.
The festival had brought in $700 so far, Green said, adding that the main concern of festival organizers is making sure that the scholarships are covered.
On Friday, Memorial Field was tested to see if it was too rain-sodden to host the carnival.
Green confirmed on Sunday that the carnival will be held on the field, beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday.
“They’re bringing in the trucks as we speak,” Green said.
Parents can register their kids for the 6 p.m. Trike Races on Wednesday — along Washington Street between Quincy and Taylor streets — beginning at 5 p.m.
Judging for the Pet Parade will get under way at 4:10 p.m. Thursday. The parade itself will begin at 4:30 on the corner of Lawrence and Van Buren streets.
“People have to have a ribbon to be judged,” Green said.
The Kiddies Parade was moved back to downtown Port Townsend this year. Registration for the Friday parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. with judging beginning at 3:10 p.m.
The parade will begin at 3:30 p.m., turning from Monroe Street onto Water Street. It turns right at Adams Street and continues to Washington Street.
Also Friday, the Bed Races are scheduled to run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Grand Parade starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information on the Rhody Festival, visit www.rhodyfestival.org.
Grand parade applications are available on the website.
